Thunder knock off 'Rocks, advance to league finals

The Langley Thunder celebrate a goal during Game 2 of the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League semi-final series at Langley Events Centre on July 12 against the Victoria Shamrocks. The Thunder won this game 12-10 to stay alive in the series and then knocked off the top-ranked Shamrocks 12-9 in Game 3 back in Victoria. Ryan Molag photo

The Langley T1 Thunder are headed to the BC Junior Tier 1 Lacrosse League finals for the first time in organizational history after rallying from a Game 1 loss to upset the top-seeded Victoria Shamrocks.

Facing elimination after dropping the series opener, the Thunder responded with consecutive victories, capped by a 12-9 win in the decisive third game on Tuesday (July 14) at Victoria's Q Centre to claim the best-of-three semifinal series 2-1.

The Shamrocks won Game 1 12-11 in Victoria on July 11 before the Thunder forced a deciding game with a 12-10 Game 2 win the following day at Langley Events Centre, setting up a winner-take-all contest.

After the teams traded the game's first two goals, Langley seized control with a 5-0 run. The Thunder scored three times in a span of 36 seconds late in the opening period to take a 6-1 lead into the intermission.

Victoria cut the gap to 9-7 after 40 minutes but could get no closer.

Logan Claxton – the league’s leading scorer during the regular season – led Langley with a pair of goals and five assists with Dallas Kilpatrick (3-2) and Cam Smith adding hat tricks. Josiah Allen (1-4), Jacob Glass (2-2), Owen Van Ryn (1-2) and Dylan Massa (0-3) also added multi-point games.

In goal, Jensen McGregor continued his stellar play, stopping 42 of 51 shots – including 19 of 20 in the first period alone – as Langley was outshot 51-29.

“Hats off to the defence and our goalie, first and foremost, for holding it down and giving us a chance to get some separation,” said Langley coach Connar Abrams about the advantage of playing with an early lead.

“As for the offence, top to bottom they knew their roles and what they had to do to win that game. And they came out firing.”

Following a one-goal loss in Game 1, the Thunder were 20 minutes away from elimination before rallying in the third period of Game 2.

“We rode the waves of the highs and lows. We lose that first game and get down heading into the third period of that second game. Some teams might quit and get on each other, but that is not in this team’s DNA,” Abrams said. “They’ve got each other’s backs until the last whistle.”

The Shamrocks were 16-2 during the regular season, including winning both head-to-head games against the Thunder, 13-4 and 14-9. But both those games came in the first three weeks of the season.

“We were still getting our bearings as a young group and we preached that we wouldn’t make that as an excuse,” Abrams said. “Victoria met a team in the second half that had grown immensely both as players and as a family.

“Despite being such a young group, we have handled the ups and downs like a team full of vets. Every player on this team has a role and they are willing to do whatever it takes for everyone in that room and across the organization.”

The Thunder face the Port Coquitlam Saints in the best-of-five league finals with the Saints holding home-floor advantage. Langley will host Game 2 and if necessary, Game 4 at Langley Events Centre with the schedule expected to be released shortly.

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